THE dredging machine bought by the administration of past mayor Benjie Lim from a P40 million loan with Land Bank of the Philippines is now virtually a useless junk.

City Engineer Virginia Rosario said the machine, which was bought brand new, is now on dry dock after it developed a big hole in its hull.

Given its condition, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez said she will ask Mayor Alipio Fernandez  Jr. to consider buying a new but cheaper and more efficient dredging machine, which the city needs as most of its rivers are now silted and are shallow.

Fernandez, who served as acting mayor of Dagupan City over the last two weeks, said the dredging machine bought by Mayor Fernandez during his first term of office in early 1990 for only P7 million was even more durable.

She said the city cannot afford to wait any longer and must seek help from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Last week, Fernandez and Rosario conducted an ocular inspection of the ongoing dredging operation on a shallow river in Mangaldan leading to Bonuan Binloc, being undertaken by the DPWH.

Both officials hailed the dredging work and asked the DPWH to extend its operation in other shallow rivers of Dagupan, including the Pantal River during current dry season.

In the last typhoon that hit the province in October 2009, some parts of Dagupan went under water as high as nine-feet.–LM

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